Press Statement

FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN IS CRITICAL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD, SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION

CONCORD, NH – Advocates and experts, including Governor Chris Sununu, Senator Jeb Bradley, Senator David Watters, and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, filled the hearing room in the Legislative Office Building today to testify in support of Senate Bill 191, which provides full-adequacy funding for full-day kindergarten. Rebecca Woitkowski, Early Childhood Policy Coordinator at New Futures Kids Count, urged the committee to support the bill:

“Increased funding for full-day kindergarten is vital in our fight against the dramatic impacts of the opioid epidemic on our children. Research has shown that children who experience multiple adverse situations in early life, such as exposure to a parent with a substance use disorder, are at a substantially greater risk for physical and mental health issues such as future substance misuse. On top of that, children in low income families and children in crisis are far less likely to be able to access private full day kindergarten or wrap around programs to mitigate the adverse experiences.”

“Investment and intervention in early childhood, particularly access to quality early education programs like full-day kindergarten, can dramatically alter a child’s life trajectory in a positive way, making it an important substance use prevention tactic. For these reasons, we’re proud to stand in support of this bipartisan issue and hope that the House Education committee will join us in our support.”